Numerical question

[tazntex]

Hello to all,
What is the best numerical format to use while sending serial data? I am asking because I was using binary, but after reading and rereading some of my program it came to me that my program would not divide binary, assuming this of'course, even my calculator won't do it. I thought about using Hex but if I am using a variable that is a byte, 8 bits right?, and I have three variables total, and I want the first to equal the sum of the second and third then I want to divide by two. Using hex or decimal will it really come out the same?

Ex:
mouse VAR BYTE
cat VAR BYTE
dog VAR BYTE

mouse =%00000001
cat = %00000001
dog =%00000000

dog = (cat + mouse)
IF cat = (dog / 2) then
HIGH 1
Else
LOW 1
ENDIF

[skimask]

mouse =%00000001
cat = %00000001
dog =%00000000

dog = (cat + mouse)
IF cat = (dog / 2) then
HIGH 1
Else
LOW 1
ENDIF

is equal to

mouse = 1
cat = 1
dog = 0

dog = ( cat + mouse )
if cat = (dog / 2) then
HIGH 1
ELSE
LOW 1
ENDIF

is equal to

mouse = $1
cat = $1
dog = $0

dog = ( cat + mouse )
if cat = (dog / $2) then
HIGH 1
ELSE
LOW 1
ENDIF

[tazntex]

Thanks for the info, just wanted to make sure.